Plasma generation is a fundamental aspect of hypersonic vehicles operating at high Mach number. A plasma testbed utilizing a DC plasma source has been designed to enable fundamental studies of plasma phenomena relevant to several hypersonic technologies. In parallel, a nanosecond pulsed laser system has been setup and can be utilized with the testbed to study flight relevant laser-plasma interactions. The status of these experiments and relevant applications for these effects will be presented.

Engineered biology (EngBio) is an advanced materials development approach that utilizes biological entities to generate new materials ranging from higher performing designer materials to drop-in replacements with lower cost or with supply chain mitigation. This approach can be used in a variety of functions including production of materiel (e.g., manufacturing chemicals and novel materials), sensing, bio- detection, protection and ISR, among other examples, with the ultimate goal of integration into defense platforms and enhancing DoD capabilities. In this study we present ongoing research on utilizing EngBio strategies for a variety of applications, including tailorable optical coatings and corrosion resistant coatings inspired by mussel adhesion.

Vehicles moving at high Mach number can generate plasmas in the high enthalpy shock layers. The ionized particles and meta-stable species in the plasma can, in turn, interact with the surrounding environment to generate emissions which may be detectable from useful distances. This study presents on-going research into plasma behavior and the mechanisms which may provide novel detection and tracking capabilities for hypersonic defense. Recent progress toward quantifying emissions ranging from VLF to GHz will be presented.

The plasmoelectric effect is a novel concept1 that utilizes resonant plasmonic modes in patterned metals to convert photons into electrical power. Its key value proposition is the ability to tune its resonance over a wide range of wavelengths using simple metal patterned structures, without the need for doping. In this talk, we provide updates on progress made working with Texas A&M University to quantify the voltage generated by the plasmoelectric effect and achieve device scaleup. 1Sheldon et al, Science 346, 828 (2014)

Steady-state hypersonic flight vehicles are current range limited from the finite specific impulse of chemical fuel. Generation of thrust via purely electromagnetic forces powered by on-board nuclear power sources allows for effectively unlimited range vehicles and new concepts of operations. The Plasma Fuel Engine (PFE) project will demonstrate thrust production in a Mach 10 hypersonic shock tunnel in Australia as part of a joint project between Lockheed Martin, the Australia Research Council, and the University of Queensland. The PFE concept, simulation results, and wind tunnel test article design will be presented. Details on the development of electron beam ionizer, acceleration electrodes and cryomagnet systems for PFE wind tunnel test article will be presented.

With increasing speed, degrees of maneuverability, and expected range, current and future air vehicle systems, specifically at leading edges, stagnation points, and nose tips pose severe and growing challenges to conventional high-temperature materials. Models over notional trajectories for current and future air and space vehicles suggest at least a greater than an order of magnitude improvement in derived protection levels are required to enable powered next generation airbreathers and glide bodies. The derived protection level includes several considerations, such as resistance to high-temperature oxidation, structural stability, ballistic impacts, and thermal management to manage heat flux gradients at leading edges, stagnation points, and nose tips. Focused efforts on the discovery, development and implementation of materials and related coating technologies are thereby fundamental to sustained and rapid innovation in air and space access vehicles.
Discovery, demonstration, and integration of ultra-high thermal and environmental barrier coatings for refractory materials, including titanium and ultra high temperature capable niobium-based C103 alloy, represents some of the pressing needs for the ultimate control and survivability of systems traveling at the immense speeds endemic to sustained hypersonic flight in air. Given the focus on advancing technical readiness and fielding of new and upgradeable systems several fundamental materials issues remain. Amongst the use of manufacturing methods for refractory materials, coating development and testing provides the enabler for operation and extended use, including withstanding heat fluxes ranging above 100 W/cm2, highly dynamic and static loads of operation, ultra high temperatures and sustained phase equilibria above 2200 °F to nearly 4000°F. At Lockheed Martin, given the precedence for coating technologies, we are rapidly developing and testing novel chemistries, topologies, physics-based modeling, to evaluate and provide novel thermal and environmental management, while maintaining predictable phases, mechanical and physical properties to enable and extend the capabilities in current and future air vehicles.
We plan to present and discuss on our ongoing work across Lockheed Martin to (i) identify, (ii) develop, (iii) manufacture, and (iii) test candidate coatings that exhibit a blend of high-temperature resilience and behavior for use on metals. Finally, we plan to conclude with points of collaboration and potential partnerships focused on the development and innovation surrounding advancing the current state of the art coatings for future air vehicles.

STITCHES is a software toolchain initially developed at DARPA, now transitioned to USAF, that rapidly creates software message adapters to allow dissimilar weapon systems to share JADO data. This interoperability enables these weapon systems to be composed into new kill webs based on changing threat scenarios. STITCHES can be applied to programs in any stage of acquisition (development to fielded) and works with any messaging standard. The STITCHES technology is a key enabler to realizing the JADO vision of composable subsystems.

The future of air dominance comes from determining methodology behind integration of uncrewed collaborative aircraft with crewed vehicles. We present our approach to developing and shaping strategy around teaming between 5th Gen crewed and uncrewed platforms through incremental demonstrations. Exploration of autonomy, open mission systems, control mechanism, and communication options is emphasized.

Since the emergence of nuclear power systems in the late 1940’s, there has been great interest in the development of technology to enable flight-weight nuclear propulsion systems for aircraft. Many power system types have been conceived over the years. The objective of this effort is to study the feasibility of a vehicle concept configured using open cycle, fission-based power system. For this effort, a fission-based reactor is considered. A parametric model of the power system has been provided and is based on LM Space Nuclear Reactor efforts.

We live in a world of ever-increasing rates of technology development and a rush to standardize those technologies. Gone are the days of building monolithic, one-trick embedded mission processors; enter the days of Government Reference Architectures (GRAs) requiring capability agility. Facing this challenge means changing our approach to designing, building, and upgrading embedded hardware. We present the latest advances in our Enterprise Open Systems Architecture that are leading the way in portability, modularity, adaptability, and sustainability.

The need for rapid and resilient teaming between crewed and uncrewed platforms cannot be overstated. We present a software-based development kit for consumption by third parties to enable teaming and interoperability between crewed and uncrewed platforms.

An overview of a modern aircraft power system and the electrical usage needs that, in turn, drive thermal management challenges will first be provided as an Introduction and to set the stage. Ultra-Wide-Band-Gap (UWBG) materials (e.g. diamond) will be discussed as the potential next revolutionary step on a path to high temperature electronics. Recent results pertaining to enabling materials research will be presented followed by a Conclusion.

Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) is a method to deposit solid films onto heated substrates by leveraging chemical reactions in which the reactants are in the gaseous state. CVD coatings at Lockheed Martin provide thermal protection and corrosion resistance to components subject to the most extreme thermal environments. These include leading edges, nozzle throats, pintles, inlets, and nozzles; this technology is also used for deposition of optical coating systems in components like nose tips. Lockheed Martin’s recent CVD coatings work targets ultra-high temperature (UHT) leading edge or inlet applications, depositing on carbon-carbon, carbon-silicon carbide, and silicon carbide wafers. Future work may expand to coat larger parts and metal components such as titanium; this facilitates lighter weight, more traditionally designed structures’ survival in extreme temperatures > 2000F. Recent investment in a state-of-the-art custom CVD reactor at the LM Rosamond site facilitates a fivefold increase in throughput for components like pintles and a highly tailorable coating zone with chemical doping capability. This reactor is scheduled for commissioning in August of 2024.

Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMCs) are a class of materials which consist of ceramic fibers embedded in a ceramic matrix. Their high-temperature mechanical strength, toughness, and good shape stability, make them well suited to modern-day hypersonic applications. Because most of the strength in CMCs is provided by the fibers, conventional 2D layup processes make them susceptible to delamination and have limited their structural applications. Fabricating components near-net-shape to reduce part machining costs, is also problematic due to poor drape properties of the fiber plies. Robotic needling (2.5D processing) is a process which enables the production of near-net-shape CMC components with improved interlaminar properties. By pushing barbed needles through stacked ply layers, fiber is transported in the through-thickness direction (z-fibers) providing initial consolidation of the plies. The z-fibers enable the fabrication of complex contoured shapes and lead to significant improvements in the ILT/ILS strength of finished CMC components.

AIDCHAT (Ai Documentation Chatbot) is a generalized knowledge retrieval tool that can be quickly and at low-cost deploy to any knowledge intensive domain. Leveraging multi filetype text extraction capability and Large Language Models (Underlying technology behind ChatGPT) , various stakeholders in a domain can access the wealth of knowledge that exists within Lockheed Martin

Challenges of extreme high-speed environments continue to demand more capable high temperature/high strength material systems for aeroshell structure, as well as be poised to meet future acquisition rates projected by the Department of Defense (DoD). In support of 2.5D Carbon-Carbon (C-C) and Ceramic Matrix Composite (CMC) material integration into aeroshell structure development, an aeroshell Manufacturing Demonstration Article (MDA) 1.0 has been developed for relevant design type structural aeroshell manufacturing and processing. 2.5D structure refers to a material system with the inclusion of strength reinforcement in the through-thickness direction. The 2024 MDA 1.5 fabrication effort is demonstrating manufacturing capability and scale-up and is leveraging the strength and stiffness advantages of the in-development 2.5D material system to reduce structural risk for future platforms based on higher interlaminar strength at high temperature capability. In addition, robotic needling of the aeroshell skin laminate has been demonstrated. This manufacturing technology demonstration is a part of the Affordable Capacity for Hypersonic Aeroshells (ACHA) and LM Aeronautics IRAD funded material development efforts to demonstrate aeroshell structure manufacture and progression to rate production capability in parallel with capturing aeroshell Material and Processes Intellectual Property (IP) in CMC structure processing. This presentation shall cover the background of the MDA design, development progression, and the current status of the MDA 1.0 and MDA 1.5 efforts along with scheduled structural hardware processing.

Societal concerns with aviation carbon emissions have resulted in growing commercial investment in hydrogen fuel cell-based propulsion systems. While such systems have significant technical challenges, they also offer an intriguing set of benefits such as zero carbon emissions, excess power for mission systems, and a quiet, cool exhaust. In this project, we investigated the feasibility of a hydrogen fuel cell-based highly survivable uncrewed reconnaissance vehicle.

Prior work under the ECHOS IRAD developed a passive geolocation pipeline for low-SwAP platforms that included signal detection, classification and geolocation. The existing geolocation solution was limited to a single stationary target on the ground. This work extends the processing pipeline to handle multiple moving targets by integrating a Random Finite Set Tracker based on the pytrack track filters developed by LM ATL. These track filters inherently handle multiple measurement sources and modes, and have favorable computationally scaling in dense scenes compared to the state of the art. This tracker is integrated into the ECHOS suite of services as a UCI Team Service. Single/multi-ship Angle of Arrival and / or multi-ship Time Difference of Arrival measurements are used to produce multiple target tracks. The processing architecture, deployment use cases, and example results will be shown. Implications for the training of autonomous AI agents using passive geolocation will be discussed.

The Lockheed Martin ADP-AI team develops AI driven technologies that operate at the edge and generate large quantities of data. The immediate visualization of this generated data is often the primary driver for these technologies but with the power of a vector database like Kinetca this data can be used to quickly provide insights that would otherwise be missed. Kinetica has key distinguishing features that separate it from other database solutions on the market including but not limited to the ability to run on edge devices, solve graphing/routing problems and display of billions of geospatial datapoints extremely fast. This presentation will highlight what our team considers to be critical capabilities of Kinetica, the work we did to leverage the technology on live customer exercises, and future opportunities to quickly deliver new capabilities to our warfighters.

Cyber vulnerabilities in software are prolific across the tech industry and the vast majority are due to poor memory protection. In this briefing we discuss our application of the Rust computing language to defense software to enhance security and performance.

Project Goose demonstrates digital engineering with the design, build, and test of an F-35 Leading Edge Flap (LEF), implementing the End to End Digital Thread from conceptual design through build and test. Major focus is on changing how we win new business, how we plan and build, the flight approval process, and how we operate. The objective demonstrates rapid design evolution and build capability through the targeted redesign, utilizing this Model Based Systems Engineering approach. Through the entire rapid design, the single source can be digitally and seamlessly transitioned through all phases of development, build, and test. As an integral part of the StarDrive portfolio, well established and evaluated tools and processes, as well as lessons learned are incorporated.
The current focus is improving test architecture A Mission Based Test Design Framework sets the foundation for a digitally incorporated Test Architecture. The approach integrates a streamlined process allowing for simplified identification of common test conditions, configurations, and essential data. This allows for a more phased test approach, concurrent testing, and shorter test programs. The Test Architecture identifies gaps and includes an initiative solution to track and navigate test plans in a digital environment, providing top to bottom traceability. The test design process provides an evaluation framework for all stakeholders and invokes various tabulation methodologies for data visualization and consumption. The objective is the mission rather than a single requirement verification.

Generative design is a paradigm shift in how Lockheed Martin executes its engineering workflow and results in two primary benefits. The first of which is the streamlining of the design process by reducing handoffs between users and software resulting in a reduction in overall cycle times. The second principal benefit is the optimization of design solutions based on objectives. This is accomplished by utilizing physics-based modeling early in the design process and simplifying user access to the power behind advanced solvers. When combined, products may see reduced costs, faster time to qualification, reduced weight and complexity, as well as increased cross-functional engagement without compromising validation and verification. The Project Gamma team, as part of the Lockheed Martin Advanced Development Programs (ADP) Star Drive initiative, has been investigating the generative design utilities within Dassault’s 3DX platform and Collier Aerospace’s Hyper-X utility and developing an engineering workflow to assist in understanding and adopting these tools. The team also explores opportunities to automate engineering workflows to increase efficiency and enhance the digital thread. Through this work, the Simulia solvers within the 3DX platform have been verified. As a result, innovative and non-intuitive design solutions have been produced that otherwise may not have been explored and methods of analysis are beginning to be leveraged within the 3DX platform. Compared to traditional design and analysis, the Gamma team is exploring workflows that significantly reduce time across multiple sizes of problems encountered in an aircraft design, from the structural layout of a conceptual configuration to optimization of a matured detail part.

Chuckie builds on Charlie, a previous StarDrive project that digitally engineered and built a physical assembly prototype. Chuckie extends the work of the Charlie team by implementing the End-to-End Digital Thread to include Cameo, Maintainer Debrief display, PLM dashboard creation, flightline analytics, and fault location on 3D model in a real-world proof of concept. The As-Maintained Digital Twin (Chuckie) can improve service-life predictions that enable condition-based maintenance and field support to improve overall fleet readiness while reducing costs, rework, and development time.

Turbulence Modeling is a leading source of error for CFD simulations. As we move to increased use of digital design, large numbers of accurate simulations over a large parameter space are required to determine aerodynamic and propulsion performance. Extensive use of scale resolving unsteady simulations is not practical. We are applying machine learning methods to improve the accuracy of steady state turbulence models, leveraging scale resolving simulations as training data.

LM Aero continues to maintain its leading edge by exploiting digital transformation to reduce physical testing with computer simulations and shorten overall design cycle span times. This is driving enhancements to LM Aero's Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) related capabilities. We present an overview of the main enablers to improve CFD operational efficiency and accuracy, which are essential to the digital transformation of our design processes.

To maintain unprecedented air vehicle capabilities, LM Aero continues to refine its high CFD simulation accuracy and associated uncertainty quantification (UQ). LM Aero's CFD capabilities have proven to provide outstanding experimental matches on complex flowfields in tactical environments, recently exemplified by extensive F-35 wind tunnel and CFD database comparisons. This is enabling UQ assessments on future full aircraft. We present comparisons between CFD predictions and F-35 wind tunnel data to demonstrate ADP’s aerodynamic predictive capabilities and the deep UQ proficiency currently being applied on program.

Engine inlet dynamic pressure distortion is a critical airworthiness consideration as exceedance of limits could result in catastrophic engine failure. For decades, highly instrumented and very costly wind tunnel models have been the basis for understanding dynamic distortion. This presentation will describe LM’s efforts to advance the use of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to quantify distortion and thereby reduce the cost and design cycle time for future systems.

Perceptor™ is a suite of platform-agnostic AI/ML & software services that enable and enhance current ISR capabilities. This presentation will describe the Perceptor™ project, lessons learned from Operational Prototype 1 development activities, progress to date, and the development roadmap. Additionally, the presentation will detail the challenges and successes associated with the integration of the MDCX platform.

The Beacon program is building a framework that implements flexibility, scalability, and interoperability for enterprise use. Beacon allows for modeling JADC2 relevant mission data into an enterprise Data Fabric with iterative integration for mission data access to accomplish inferencing and real-time analysis. This presentation provides an overview of the Beacon program, the framework, and an in-depth look at three of the projects that have leveraged the framework to develop AI/ML enabled services.

Discover the future of aircraft inspections with our autonomous AI-enabled inspection capability. AAIR ensures safe data collection from aircraft, helicopters, and more. With cutting-edge AI algorithms and image processing, AAIR detects, classifies, and localizes surface defects, reducing risks to personnel and optimizing maintenance procedures. Join us to explore the latest on how AAIR is transforming aircraft inspections to be safer and more efficient.

AI is driving efficiency, reducing costs, and transforming business and customer operations. Learn about innovative solutions that are focused on accelerating engineering design, streamlining production, and enhancing sustainment efforts across the entire aircraft lifecycle. By prioritizing customer needs and leveraging cutting-edge AI technology, we ensure simplicity, usability, and scalability in our solutions.

This presentation explores the development of tactical autonomous platforms for crewed-uncrewed air combat, emphasizing the challenges of uncertain and adversarial environments. We focus on reinforcement learning (RL) techniques grounded in game theory to address the multi-agent problem in tactical combat scenarios. A key aspect of this approach is ensuring human compatibility, necessitating the inclusion of process assurance and responsible AI practices to foster trust and understanding between human pilots and their autonomous teammates. By leveraging hierarchical RL and skill discovery, we can incrementally introduce autonomous capabilities, such as tactical autopilots and task-specific control for low-cost, expendable platforms. This method allows for the gradual deployment of robust and safe autonomous behaviors, ensuring the integration of dominant and reliable capabilities for our customers.

IKRuS (Intelligent Knowledge Retrieval System) addresses the challenge of scattered documentation by harnessing AI to streamline information retrieval from various sources. With IKRuS's intuitive interface, engineers can swiftly access design guides, planners can efficiently engage with mission planning resources, and less experienced team members can quickly grasp lessons learned. By optimizing user interaction and expediting workflows, IKRuS facilitates more informed decision-making, fostering innovation and efficiency throughout the enterprise. Engineered for both closed networks and multiple network layers, IKRuS marks a significant advancement in AI-driven information discovery and retrieval, promising enhanced productivity and streamlined workflows.

VisSuite is a comprehensive suite of tools and capabilities developed internally by the ADP Virtual Prototyping team to meet the unique needs of the aerospace industry and our programs. The VisSuite of tools delivers adaptable, affordable, performant, and practical solutions with the purpose to be easily deployed to LM programs. Showcased at previous LMAIR events, the ADP Virtual Prototyping team continues to grow, enhance, and mature their VisSuite product line. These “Vis” solutions help evolve LM’s digital transformation capabilities by enabling LM programs and functions with tools to aid in information understanding and retention for improved decision making and outcomes. This presentation will highlight updates to such tools as BattleVis (virtual battlespace viewer and GeoTwin), InfoVis (3D information deployment platform), VisAR (Augmented Reality, AR solution), VisVR (Virtual Reality, VR solution) and VisCore (digital pipeline framework) to name just a few.

Project RAIVN (Responsive AI Verification Network) is an early-stage research initiative aimed at revolutionizing task completion and error correction within the aerospace workforce. Leveraging foundational technologies from Carnegie Mellon University's Living Edge Lab, RAIVN integrates advanced computer vision and AI to create a wearable cognitive assistant. This assistant, designed to run on edge devices, provides real-time task guidance, mistake identification, and corrective feedback. By utilizing edge computing, RAIVN ensures context-aware, immediate assistance, tailored to complex aerospace operations. This presentation will cover the development process, innovative features, and the potential impact of RAIVN on enhancing efficiency and reducing errors in aerospace tasks.

The introduction of advanced 5G capabilities is enabling new opportunities for connectivity and compute paradigms. One of these technology domains is the concept of pixel streaming that provides off-device rendering and computational power that require high speed, secure, and persistent network infrastructure. The high bandwidth and low latency of mmWave 5G networks allow for powerful, real-time, computing at the edge, bridging the gap between edge device computing, advanced visualization, and AI computational needs. This presentation will discuss the technical implementation, performance enhancements, and practical applications of 5G-enabled pixel streaming, showcasing its potential to revolutionize the way we implement advanced visualization capabilities. This presentation explores our progress on the second phase of our development journey building off of last year's effort on a public 5G system, now transitioning it to LM’s 5G.mil infrastructure.

This presentation highlights various efforts in which the Virtual Prototyping team has been helping transform LM Sustainment in their digital transformation journey. Such topics includes Aero’s Hypersage effort, the Digiverse digital twin project, advanced visualization over 5G, VR task training, Autonomous AI-Enabled Inspector (AAIR) endeavor, next generation of LODEM (Low Observable Defect Entry Module), as well as various ways the VisSuite is supporting sustainment applications. This presentation will focus on key areas such as maintenance task training, visual work aids, and performant web-based tools. The discussion will cover the development, deployment, while emphasizing the potential to transform sustainment strategies within the aerospace industry.

Accomplishing dramatic reductions in the manufacturing cost of composite structures requires a combination of developments in automated processes, high speed material deposition, innovation in fiber preforms, and reduced dependence on hard tooling methods. LM Aero’s “Ultra-Low Cost Fabrication” IR&D addresses each of these topics and focusses its efforts by targeting mature innovations including those not originally intended for aerospace applications. This presentation provides a description of the technologies being studied, our ongoing development efforts, and our plans for future improvements and applications targeting these next generation vehicles.

Pi preforms offer a robust composite bonding solution that complements LM Aero’s co-bonding technologies. The cost of baseline 3D Woven Pi preforms, however, severely limits the number of vehicle applications that they can be to. This presentation describes ongoing LM Aero and Corporate sponsored IRAD efforts that are pursuing innovations in new Pi preform configurations and Pi processing approaches with objectives to reduce the cost of Pi preforms and Pi bonded assemblies by up to 50%.

To meet industry cost and schedule demands, LM Aero is evaluating innovative tooling methods for composite fabrication. From dieless incremental forming of sheet metal, to additively manufactured tooling, LM Aero is pushing the bounds of standard tooling methods in various “Ultra-Low Cost Composite” IR&D projects. This presentation will cover these novel technologies being evaluated and plans for future developments in our next generation aircraft.

LM Aero is participating in the NASA Hi-Rate Composite Aircraft Manufacturing (HiCAM) Project which aims to demonstrate manufacturing technologies for high-rate composite airframe production, specifically in the area of thermoplastic composites and model-based engineering tools. Thermoplastic composites enable significant cost savings compared to thermosets and without the weight penalties of metallic structures. Although this program is targeted for commercial flight, the technological, material, and modeling advancements from this project can be applied to current and future LM programs.

Next-Generation Air refueling System (NGAS) imposes new design challenges that are absent from traditional air-to-air refueling configuration. On approach to the tanker there can be significant flow field interactions generated by the receiver aircraft. Previous studies indicate, for a tailless tanker configuration this interaction may approach or exceed available trim pitch control power. The purpose of this study is to determine if current NGAS configurations (both with and without tails) have sufficient longitudinal control power to counteract the aerodynamic interference effects that will be encountered. The findings of this study will provide a better understanding of tanker-receiver interference issues and inform the necessary design decisions required to overcome configurational challenges.

The Smart Adaptive Flight-Control Environment (SAFE) SAFE examines robust and adaptive flight control algorithms with the goal of reducing the cost and schedule for Lockheed Martin Aeronautics flight controls development by 50%. SAFE combines elements of adaptive control and machine learning to improve flight control performance and stability despite the presence of disturbances, failures, and modeling errors due to uncertainty, all while providing real time estimation of key parameters with an online learning system. We overview the “bolt-on” architecture that integrates with legacy flight control systems in a minimally invasive approach and discuss recent steps taken to mature SAFE towards an X-62A VISTA experimental flight test. Included are simulation results from both non-real-time and real-time, pilot-in-the-loop simulations. The goals for 2024 are summarized and the framework described for the 2025 SAFE 2.0 effort which expands the adaptive control beyond the current L1 baseline.

Under both IRAD and CRAD funding, LM has been developing state-of-the-art mission planning software, models, and algorithms. These optimize the route geometry, sensor collections, and weapon delivery for conventional and low observable aircraft. Route planning algorithms maneuver the aircraft around known threats to accomplish mission sensor and weapon tasking. Heterogeneous task allocation algorithms distribute large numbers of tasks across multiple platforms. Resource management and scheduling algorithms optimize the exact temporal allocation of resources to specific tasks for sensor collection and electronic attack resources.

This research addresses the coherent fusion of a sequence or set of low-resolution SAR images to create a single high-resolution image where aircraft would utilize lower resolution image modes whose data can be gathered at over twice the standoff distance of the higher resolution modes. The georeferenced high-resolution imagery would increase mission flexibility, situation awareness, combat ID assurance, and provide a new targeting mode with better location accuracy without yielding survivability. We examine the functional and mathematical implementation of the RF imaging spectral estimation problem through an alternating descent processing and Machine Learning constructs.